GAME 5 DIRKIE: Winner Luka (74%) | Runner-up (THJ (26%)

[Kammrath]

Who was the player of the game who upped his game to help the team get the win?

[omahen]

Another team victory.

[SkenfromLMF]

Don't win without Timmy

[Kammrath]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TChUMvT4lYg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se_7ySeMaX0

[ballsrchr]

I have to give it to Luka.  He is not up to speed yet...but tonight wasn't bad.

[KillerLeft]

Luka's 2nd and 3rd quarters were the difference, so he's the right choice. However, there aren't many chances to pick THJ over the course of a normal season, so I took this rare opportunity to do so.

[Kammrath]

THJ

With 6/18 shooting?

[KillerLeft]

With 6/18 shooting?

Not many bad shots, though. I hope he will make more of them in future games, but I, personally, didn't feel like he forced very much tonight. I also think he had 3-4 EXCELLENT, productive drives, which is something we don't expect from him. I'm happy to know that he can be proficient enough with that part of his game for the Mavs to take advantage of defenders like Duncan Robinson.

---

Also, I'm not sure what the stat line or +/- was, but I'm a little surprised not to see James Johnson as an option, at least. I thought he did some interesting things out there tonight, and has been in most games.

[SleepingHero]

Gotta give it to Luka. He put up 27/15/7 and still managed to make me feel he could've done more.

Mavs basically shot terrible from this game too 41/32/72 as a team. Thankfully the Heat managed to shoot even worse.

[Kammrath]

I'm not sure what the stat line or +/- was, but I'm a little surprised not to see James Johnson as an option, at least.

-2, 8 pts, 1 ast, 3 rbds, 2 stls

[KillerLeft]

Gotta give it to Luka. He put up 27/15/7 and still managed to make me feel he could've done more.

Mavs basically shot terrible from this game too 41/32/72 as a team. Thankfully the Heat managed to shoot even worse.

Yeah, the shooting was still cringe, but he looked infinitely more confident (swaggy, even) in the 2nd and 3rd quarters tonight than I feel like he has looked in any other game, so far. The double moves were working again, all of a sudden, leaving me feeling like he was more in rhythm and maybe a little quicker than he had been previously. 

Also, I said something about this in the discord, but even though the 3-ball isn't dropping for him, I'm in the camp that believes he has to shoot them anyway. Even when he's in peak form, he doesn't have a stellar first step, so imho, the threat of that step back is integral to his success. Also, in a short sample size and possibly polluted by poor rhythm/conditioning, "better shot selection Luka" seems tentative and a little scared to me at times, and doesn't appear to impact the game in the way to which we've grown accustomed. I think I've just about decided that I prefer "reckless, heat-check Luka."

[Kammrath]

Also, in a short sample size and possibly polluted by poor rhythm/conditioning, "better shot selection Luka" seems tentative and a little scared to me at times, and doesn't appear to impact the game in the way to which we've grown accustomed. I think I've just about decided that I prefer "reckless, heat-check Luka."

[KillerLeft]

lololol...I take it you disagree?

[embellisher]

1. Luka
.
.
.
.
THJ

Johnson honorable mention

[ClutchDirk]

Yeah, the shooting was still cringe, but he looked infinitely more confident (swaggy, even) in the 2nd and 3rd quarters tonight than I feel like he has looked in any other game, so far. The double moves were working again, all of a sudden, leaving me feeling like he was more in rhythm and maybe a little quicker than he had been previously. 

Also, I said something about this in the discord, but even though the 3-ball isn't dropping for him, I'm in the camp that believes he has to shoot them anyway. Even when he's in peak form, he doesn't have a stellar first step, so imho, the threat of that step back is integral to his success. Also, in a short sample size and possibly polluted by poor rhythm/conditioning, "better shot selection Luka" seems tentative and a little scared to me at times, and doesn't appear to impact the game in the way to which we've grown accustomed. I think I've just about decided that I prefer "reckless, heat-check Luka."

https://media.giphy.com/media/CtqI1GmvT0YVO/giphy.gif

[BolsDamols]

Gave it to Luka, runner up honors to THJ
THJ had a great start to the 3rd quarter which helped blew the game open. He also had some stretches of good defense played against Jimmy Butler.
Harp said in the broadcast, "When he (THJ) is hitting shots, Mavs are a different team". But I also liked that he played solid defense in this game, which I think needs to happen more often, especially on nights when his shots are not falling.

[SleepingHero]

Also, I said something about this in the discord, but even though the 3-ball isn't dropping for him, I'm in the camp that believes he has to shoot them anyway.

Totally agree with you and I'm in the same camp as you. I believe Luka HAS to take those shots to keep the defense honest. He's not going to shoot 12% for his career. Even at a 33% clip, teams need to guard that, which makes them give up space for drives. 

Also, in a short sample size and possibly polluted by poor rhythm/conditioning, "better shot selection Luka" seems tentative and a little scared to me at times, and doesn't appear to impact the game in the way to which we've grown accustomed. I think I've just about decided that I prefer "reckless, heat-check Luka."

Also totally agree with you. I think more often than not, Luka shooting the ball is better normally than anyone else shooting the ball. So I say shoot away Luka.

[DrMav]

Just getting to watch the game today. Hard to go against Luka as he’s getting more on track, but I thought THJ played a really good game overall with great defense on Jimmy Butler at times so went with him.